Cotton picker



Apr-il 12, 1932. H. P. GOODLINGVET AL 1,853,124.

COTTON4 PICKER Filed April s, 1928 2 sheets-sheet l lNvENToRs HWMP GOOGLE@ VKL-Henderson ATTORNEY April 12, 1932- H. P. GooDLlNG ETAL 1,853,124

COTTON PICKER Filed Abril 3, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Padzeritecl` Apr.` 12,; 17932 UNI-.ran STATES Heumann r.' GooDLINe, vor YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, ANDv WILEm L. jrrnnnnnsomer PATENT' oF'FI MOBILE,

COTTON riem.

Application sled Aprila,

This invention relates to improvements in manipulated byjoneV hand of an operator, yetk l wholly adequate in it's'structural aspects to 'stand uplunder the'continuous, vigorous' and more or l'esslrough use' toAwhich itwillbe put.

Another object of the invention is tol provide a cotton pickerA of'tlie foregoing char- -acter,;in whichfthe electric driving motor,

which constitutes the heaviest element, is so disposed inrespecttcahandle that the weight of thedevice is well balanced;

n Another object ofthe invention isto make f 20 4possible the simultaneous use of a number of electrically operated mechanical cotton pickersfin a field thatvis isolated from a source of electrical current, the model of accomplishment'. being the transportation into the ield 'w25 "ofaconveyance carryinga power generating unit from whicha suicient number of wires f Other'objects and advantages appear in the following specification, reference being had `3o lto the accompanying drawings, in which I\`i,'gurev lis a perspective View illustrating thepri-ncipleof thezinventiom Figure Q'is: a longitudinal lsection ofv the cotton-'.picker',

Figure- 3 Vis' a= horizontal section taken on in pla-n,

Figure? 4 is ay cross section jof'the mouth-v piece taken yon the'line-W-i of'Figure 3, particularly illustrating the impellers or flappers that comprise the gripping means,

y Figure 5-i's adetaiflhoriz'ontal? section ofthe mouthpiece takenonthe l'ine 5-5 of Figure 2, Ii`iguref6isv ay detail front elevation of the mouthpiece, l y

Y Fig-ure 'Tf is afragmentary diagram illus'- trating the overlapping arrangement ofthe 1 flexible iappers, .Y s

f Figure' 8 is a detail perspectivey view of one 'i i 50r foffthe' impelil'er' shafts? i the line'Y of Figure 2, the motor being left' '1928. Serial No. 267,008.

The difficulties of producing aicotton crop donot end with the 'cultivation of lthe'plants to a: poi-nt whereat the ripe cotton is ready to'be picked, but extend to no smalldegree, y

to the operation of. removingfthev cotton.

'Many expedients havebeen devised and tried out, each with'the View of removing the cotton 'most expeditiously and efficiently.

However, no cotton crop has' ever.` been A. known to be--subject to-any fixed rule, sor-that condition obtaining at one period in a singlev season, or `in various seasons, may notbe' encountered at other times. For instance, it is not uncommon to' extend the harvesting of a single cotton. crop 'over three periods, that is to say, it is not'r unusual to go over the same fieldZ three times'before all of the cotton has beenpicked.

f The reason forthelatterconditionfisthatl all'fof' the cotton .does not ripen at the one time. With this condition in mindl it is readily` seen that leaves'onxoneplant, which are `comparatively,fresh during the first picking,

niay"-have become witheredl and'v driedfbythe Q time the cottonisready for thethird picking. It is thus possibletohave a yield of cotton full of dried leaves,istalks, etc., as the result of the last picking, Climatic conditions be- .Vtween seasons may also make a vast dilference in-the character of thepl'ants andl of the cotton. f K I* A Inasmuch as most types of cotton'picking machinery have no provisions for discriminating between that which is goodr and bad,

itv4 follows that the product ofthe cottonfield may either be suitable or of a very low grade.-V

It also happenstobe the easethat mostcotton lields'4 are situated inregionswhere variouskinds of power is not available for the purposefofoperating mechanicall cotton pickers. It is now the custom to choose between a portablepower plant 'or tofpick the cotton by handlabor., i s Y 7 It has beenestimated thatlthel majorihulk Ag5 of cottonlis-removed by hand labor-,fand' that of; negrocs; Hand, laborv is usually slow, but

lneg:o hand labor is painfully so. The foregoing lack of4k discrimination of mechanical cotton pickers seems no: less apparent when the crop is harvested according to the last mode.

While the improved cotton picker, disclosed herein, does not dispense with hand labor, yet the nature of it is such that the judgment of the operative will be put on probation, and his efficiency as an operator will be increased several hundred percent. All that he has to do is to present the mouthpiece of the device to a ripe cotton boll and ress the trigger, whereupon the device will o the rest. It would show a lack of judgment to present the mouthpiece to an unripe cotton boll or to a stalk full of leaves.

Reference is now made to the drawings. The body of the device, generally designated 1, comprising the following parts: a pair of sides 2 which have rear end projections 3, a

platform 4 on said projections, a rear brace 5 beyond which the projections 3 extend slightly as at 6, a rear inclined closure plate r7, a bottom 8 and a top 9. The bottom 8 stops short of the closure plate 7 thus leaving a discharge opening 10. The top 9 also stops short of the plate 7 thus leaving a top opening 11Vthat may be variously used as an observation or hand hole.

A bridge 12 is part of thepbody and spans the distance between the rear brace 5 and the closure plate 7. It provides a mounting for a combined handle-switch 13. It also assists in partially housing an velectric motor 14 that is fastened down upon the platform 4. A trigger 15 permits the operator to start and stop the motor with one finger of the hand that grips the handle 13.

A feed wire 16 conducts electrical current to the motor 14. The switch mechanism 17, located within the handle 13, is interposed.

yUpward pressure on the trigger 15 will close a circuit through the motor, while a release of the pressure will open the circuit. The switch arrangement may be such that a depression and release of the trigger will keep the switch closed, while the next depression and release will again open the switch.

Situated at the front of the body is a mouthj piece that contains the gripping means. This mouthpiece is actually an integral part of the Vbody 1, but the description of the construction is thus set apart in order to emphasize the peculiar features thereof. It is set at an angle to the body, thus enabling the operative 'to readily direct and present the device to ripe the mouthpiece may readily be disassembled from the body should there be an occasion.

` The side plates have facing plates 20 attached thereto as at 21, this particular arrangement being incidental to the original mode of manufacture. In practice the side and facing plates may be made in one, and for the purpose of this description said plates are collectively known as the side plates.

Upper and lower guard plates 22 and 23 form continuations of the top 9 and bottom 8 over the mouthpiece. The upper guard is concaved at 24 prior to being bent downwardly at 25.

The lower guard plate is similarly concaved at 26 prior to being bent upwardly at 27 in the forward direction to provide a narrow lip 28. Front plates 29, suitably secured at 30 to the front edges of the side 'plates 18 constitute both wheel and entranceguards. For the rst purpose they are respectively formed and bent as at 31 and 32. For the second purpose they are bent forwardly and;rv

provided with toothed edges as at 33.

Journalled upon the side plates 18 is a pair of shafts 34 by which impellers or flappers 35 are carried. The flappers constitute the gripping means by which the cotton is pulled into the device and is thrownrearwardly and downwardly. The formation of the shafts and mode of mounting the flappers thereon is subject to considerable variation,

but a characteristic construction comprisesV the reduction of the shaft ends as at 36-whicl1 leaves an enlarged lcentral portion, opposite .ofthe interaction of these edges that cotton is removed from the plants. The strips are disposed tangentially of the shafts 34, extending in directions opposite from each other at opposite sides of the shafts. The arrangement is shown in Figure 7. The outermost surfaces of the strips are flush with the flattened sides 37.

Metallic binder plates 40 and suitable spacers 41 complete the mounting of the flexible strips. `The transverse edges of the binder plates abut discs 42. These, in turn run close to the inside of the side'y plates 18. The transverse edges of the flexible strips are flush with the end discs. These edges of the strips will wipe over flexible inserts 43, located between the front plates 29 and the front edges of the side plates 18. f

The purposel of the end discs is to prevent choking of the mouthpiece by the wrapping of the cotton aroundl the shafts 34 at the points where the` shafts pass ythrough thc sides. This purpose is aided bythe action of the strip edges against the inserts 43., The strip edges move closely past the inserts and brush olf any lint tending to adhere thereto .at places that are directly in frontof the discs. Substantially the'same effect could be Eachstrip4 gotteniby Sinking: the enddiscs'in circular recesses'in the side plates.

' Oneof the: shafts 34 pro] thea-devicey to, .carryl apulley; 44.y The other Vendet the saine shaft and one end ofy the reects at one side of maining shaft; project at the other end of the device to carry gears r45. yThese gears mesh inlorder to driiveboth shafts/simultaneousl'y when: power isappli'ed to the pulley lso 44. Such power application is through a belt 46 from a pulley 47 on one endy of the shaft of the motor 14. It is to be observedv that the flapper strips pass through'theconcavities 24 and 26 to thevupper and lower I guardi plates when inVV motion.

A flexible spout 48 is attached to the cotton picker in such manner ythat the opening lo() communicates therewith. The spout may be made to discharge into any ordinary cotton picking bag such as is usuallycarried by an operative, or'it may be made to discharge into a basket as suggested in Figure l. It is also possible to discharge the contents of the spout into a Lsuitable mechanical conveyor whence it may be conducted to any desired point. 1 f

The rear extensions 6 and a 4pair of hooks 49 provide a place of attachment for the spout. A strip of elastic 50 will tend to hold the spout in place, but the holding of the spout is insured by a draw string 51 which may be tied tight. It desired, the device may be equipped with a shoulder strcp 52 (Fig. l) by which some of the weight of the cotton picker may be borne. p

Electrical power is preferably supplied Y by a generating unit 53 that is carried into the ield. A truck or wagon 54 of any suitable description comprises the conveyance for the generating unit, aswell as for a trolley pole 55, suitable switch 56 and all of the necessary appurtenances. The feed wires, of which one has already been mentioned in connection with the handle-switch,v radiate from the Vpowergenerating unit.

Theoperation is readily understood. They picking device is suiiiciently light to enabler the operative to direct it through all necessary manipulations without excessiveifatigue.

VThe combined handle-switch 13 is located di- The action of the ilappers is to pick or pull the ripe cotton from the plant, and throw it rearwardly and downwardly, through the passageway in thev body l into the exible,

spout 48. The speed of rotation of the iappers performs the throwing act. They also induce a current of air which' acilitatespas'- sage of the cotton.

f The purpose of the toothed edges 33 is as follows: They tend ,to cause the cotton to be drawn out into shreds.v The mass of incomingcotton is separated, inl a manner, so'tha-t it will` not be drawn into the'picker in large i balls that might tend to choke the mechanism. The action of the fla-ppers is vigorous,

Vand as soon as the mouthpieceis presented to f a quantity of ripecotton the latter will im- Vmediatelfy be Vl pulled from the pla-nt and,v

thrown: into the picker. y

vInasmuch yas each boll of ripened cottonk is quite. large and the entrance of the mouthc piece is rather narrow, it follows that the toothed edges 33 will strike the cotton'in. its.

medial parts. Some of the cotton will be pressed intothe mouthpiece by virtue of the engagement therewith of the device. The re- Lvolving lappers wilLpull such portions `of the cotton in, the remaining portions being;

drawn Ypast the teeth 33 with. the effect already described. The teeth tend to-rctard the inward. passage of the cotton. Theyy prevent t from being thrown into the device in large alls. rThe interaction ofthe flexible strips is well illustrated in Figures 2and 7. They overlap f as. shownwhen passing each other. As `the stripsj38 approach each other at the center of the mouthpiece they gradually. take in the .2;

cotton andV ultimately exert a pull thereupon. The eXibility of the ystrips compensates forany variation in the volume of cotton,

fior-instance a seedor number of seeds may `produce' a lump.- As the flappers separate`,

after having passed eachother, they throw the cotton rearwardly and. downwardly. rThe action of the Happem is thatof a continuous pull.

The various Vguard, plates deliriok the entrance of Athe. mouthpiece.. It has be'enexplained already that the front plates 29 actas guards for the entrance to the mouthpiece.

They also serve as guards tor the; pulley 44 and gears 45, the members 3l and 32 pertorminoa these particular functions. f

iiokv iis i 1 Iention has been made of the fact that vayrious modes can be utilized ofdisposing of the picked cotton. While such modes have gn'ofvd'irect bearing `on the invention, it is bei,

lieved desirable to say that the top opening l1 is well, adapted. to the yattachment!ora hose or tube of a suction fan; By means of anl arrangementsuch as suggested, it would be possible to` immediately convey the cotton to a remotepoint by means of suction, i thus obviating the necessity for either a basket, bag or pondero-us mechanical conveyor.

While thel construction.. and arrangement of ythe improved 'cotton picker is4 that. oiv a ies generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

Ve claim:

1. A cotton picker comprising a body having a mouthpiece, gripping means in the mouthpiece comprising flappers, and means by Which the flappers are revolubly carried 10 in such angular positions as to periodically overlappingly engage.

2. In a cotton picker, a body having a mouthpiece, driven shafts journalled on the mouthpiece, and flexible flappers tangentially '15 carried by and oppositely directed in respect to each shaft, said lappers being sulciently long to overlap when passing thus to draw cotton into the mouthpiece and throw it into the n body, and means on which the lappers are sei cured in said positions.

3. In a cotton picker, a mouthpiece, revoluble shafts journalled upon the mouthpiece one above the other, flexible flappers attached at one edge to each shaft and being sufliciently long to overlap when passing, and means on the shafts at the ends of the flappers adjoining the mouthpiece preventing the cotton from Wrapping around the shafts. ,7. 4;. In a -cotton picker, a mouthpiece having revoluble shafts journalled therein, flexible lappers secured to the shafts and beingk Sulliciently long to overlap When passing, and discs on the shafts with Which discs the ends of the flappers abut to prevent the cotton from Wrapping around the shafts.

5. In a cotton picker, a mouthpiece having side plates, and upper and lower guard plates, shafts journalled on the side plates, means for revolving the shafts in determined directions, flexible flappers carried by the shafts being long enough to overlap When passing and thus draw in cotton, discs on the shafts adjacent to the side plates and in abutment with the ends of the flappers to prevent cotton from Wrapping around the shafts, front plates attached to the mouthpiece, and ilexible inserts between the front plates and side plates bearing against the peripheries of the discs to aid the foregoing function.

6. A cotton picker comprising a body having a passageway With a discharge opening at one side thereof, a mouthpiece having its longitudinal axis at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the passageway, and gripping means disposed in the mouthpiece for movement transversely of the axis thereof to throw cotton crosswise of said passageway toward said discharge opening. y

7. In a cotton picker having a mouthpiece and revoluble interacting grippers, guard means at the sides of the entrance to the mouthpiece hence spaced to leave the center unobstructed, and serrations on confronting portions of the guard means by which the cotton is shredded as drawn in. 

